Chester Okonkowski (age 89)
December 4, 2025
Chester Joseph Okonkowski age 89 was born in Detroit on March 15, 1936 to Chester and Wanda (nee Novakowski) Okonkowski. His family and friends affectionately called him, Chet. He is survived by his brother, Patrick (Claudia Rzepka), sister, Andrea Miller and many nieces and nephews. His cat, Coon, already misses him. Chester was predeceased by his parents, Chester and Wanda, 2 baby brothers: Jerome and Thomas, sisters: Geraldine Lewis, Sylvia Degorski, and Shirley Lach.
Chet was an avid hunter who hunted until a few years ago. He graciously cooked venison dinners for others in the neighborhood at Suzy’s, Adam’s Corner, and Turtle & Inky’s. A lifelong member of St. Hyacinth parish, others knew Chet for his regular church attendance and participation in church activities. Chet worked at Delta in Detroit, a blasting plant in Sterling Heights and was a seasonal bartender in the Poconos Mountains in Pennsylvania.
Often Chet dressed up as Santa and passed gifts out to underprivileged children in the neighborhood. He rode in the Hamtramck Thanksgiving Day parade in a red Cadillac convertible dressed as Santa.
He always had a joke to tell. Many times, his jokes were rather off-color. It wasn’t unusual to hear, “Hey, Uncle Chet, tell us a joke!” Chester was a diamond in the rough who was still in the rough. He was greatly loved by his family and friends. He will be missed by many.
At Chet’s request he asked that there not be flowers at his funeral. Please make a donation in Chet’s name to a charity of your choice.
Visitation
Tuesday, December 9, 2025 from 2 – 8 PM with a rosary at 6 PM
Jurkiewicz & Wilk Funeral Home (map)
2396 Caniff
Hamtramck MI 48212
Funeral service
December 10, 2025
Lying in state at 10 AM until time of funeral mass at 10:30 AM.
St. Hyacinth Catholic Church (map)
3151 Farnsworth
Detroit MI 48211
From your Degorski family nieces and nephews, Mary Anne Haskins/Skip, George//Cheryl Degorski, Theresa/Danny Ealy, Christine/Harold Black, Michael Degorski and Thomas Degorski, many You were a legend Uncle Chester. Thank you for always making your annual visit to our Mom, your sister Sylvia in Ferndale with your Christmas goodies of kielbasa and ham. Attending your beautiful celebration of life service at St. Hyacinth’s in Hamtramck was incredibly special. The blessing of incense & sprinkling of water over your body was especially touching to me, Mary Anne. This was the church where my parents met (father Stanley Degorski, organist; mother Sylvia Okonkowski, choir). They married here in 1950. You are in the radiant presence of Jesus our Savior and Redeemer. “I am the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in Me will live, even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” With a resounding YES YOU DID! Praise him for your 89 years He sustained your days on earth. Well done good and faithful servant.